Paper-cutting machine.



WITNESSES:

D. T. WADHAMS.

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T.19,'1910.

Patented June 11, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 235 230 COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

D. T. WADHAMS.

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001.19, 1910.

1,028,920, v Patented June 11,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

12272215 Tifsdfiams.

'ATTOR COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH C0..WASHIN|JTON, D. c.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. IDARIUS T. WADI-IAMS, or oswneo, NEW YORK, ,{LSSIGNOR r6 NIEL GRAY, JR, or

oswnso, NEW YORK.

PAPER-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentedune 11, 1912} Application filed October 19, 1910. Serial No. 587,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, DARIUS T. W AD HAMS, a citizen of the United States residmg at. Oswego, in the county of Oswego and Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a paper cutting machine and consists in a machine of improved construction, having a clamp and actuating mechanism for the clamp operating in an improved manner initially to depress the clamp onto the pile of paper wlth a continuous application of power, whereby the pile will be steadied,.and the air eX- pelled from between the sheets preparatory to the heavy clamping pressure applied thereon during the cutting operation. This initial steadying and the expelling of the air, from between the sheets of the pile heretofore has been accomplished by manually operating mechanism andby the weight of the clamp; in the first instance, requir ng the operator to perform manual labor with,

imperfect and nonuniform results, and, in

the case of the clamp being permitted to descend and rest on the work by gravity,

operation at high speed will produce a tendency of the clamp to rebound and not work smoothly, this obj ectionable feature be ng very pronounced in the event of the cutting of a soft or spongy pile.

I have here shown a desirable embodiment of my invention adapted to overcome the aforementioned objections in an effective manner, important features of which are a suitable clamp to work independent of the knife in the cutting, means normally to sustain the clamp in elevated position, a resilient mechanism operative to overcome the resistance of the clamp sustaining means and to pull the clamp onto the work in a positive manner with adequate pressure to expel the air from between the sheets, means automatically to actuate the resilient connect-ions to perform their functions preparatory to the clamping pressure and a suitable pres sure device to produce a clamping pressure on the work during the cutting operation. These and other features of my invent-ion are shown in the accompanying drawings i which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section thereof on line 22 of pit-man connections of the machine is formed as shown with the right and left standards 1 and 2 secured at their lower ends by the usual cross-rods 3 and 3. Oppositely supported on the frame are the uprights 4 and 5 having, as shown, their front faces arranged to form in con junction with the guide-bars 7 7 secured thereon, slide-ways for the usual knife-stock 6. The knife-stock, carrying the knife 9 is arranged to reciprocate in the slideways so formed and is carried and operated by the 1011 attached to either end of the knife-stock and connected at their lower ends respectively to the cranks 1213 onopposite ends of the drive shaft 15. Journaled in the rear of the frame is the usual power-shaft 16 to which is secured the driving-pulley 17 and; on which is journaled the usual idler 18. As best shown in Fig. 2 power from said shaft 16 is communicated to the drive-shaft 15 through the customary clutch mechanism, not shown, by the engagement of pinion 20, carried on the power shaft, with large gear 22 secured on the drive shaft. To produce the desired draw out or shear stroke a guide 23 is pivotally secured to the knife-stock and fitted to slide in the inclined guide-way 1,3100}; 24 formed integral with the guide Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation numerals of the description indicate corre- 1 spondmg parts in all the figures, the frame 25 is the usual table on which the pile to i be cut is placed beneath the knife where it is engaged by a clamping element which is operated as hereinafter described to effect the compression of the pile and thereafter to produce a heavy clamping pressure thereon during the time that the knife is making its out.

The clamping element here shown consists of the clamp-member 40 arranged parallel and to the rear of the knife and fitted to slide in suitable guide-ways 41 in the uprights. This clamp member is formed with the usual clamp-fingers 42 and is provided on either endwiththe depending straps 43 having at their lower ends the racks 44 through which the clamp is lowered onto the pile. Normally to raise the clamp and to sustain it in elevated position, there are desirably provided similar means to exert an upward pressure on the opposite clamp ends at either side of the machine to insure the perfect balancing of the clamp. The parts on the left hand side of the machine only are here illustrated as it will be readily understood that the corresponding parts on the opposite sides of the machine are identical in form and operation. Said parts consist of clamp co-balance springs 50 arranged in suitable brackets on the inner sides of the respective side members, to bear onsthe under side of curved arms 55 provided with rollers 56 on their forward ends engaging the under portions of the racks 44. The springs 50 are retained in position by guidepins 58 depending from the arms 55, their combined power beingsuflicient to raise the clamp into elevated position, designated by the engagement of arm stops 60 with stoplugs 61 formed on the standards 1 and 2.

The mechanism that I desirably employ in the lowering of the clamp onto the work, is an important feature of my invention and consists in means operative to overcome the resistance of the clamp co-balance springs to lower the clamp onto the work, and, upon the engagement of the clamp with the work to produce a holding pressure thereon. Automatically to accomplish this I have provided connections to the clamp actuated from the drive-shaft 15, said connect-ions desirably having incorporated therein a resilient element such as the stiff spring here shown. The connections, operating through this spring, which is of sufficient.

strength to overcome the resistance of the clamp-sustaining springs, will accomplish first the lowering of the clamp onto the work against the tension of the sustaining springs, and then the compression of the spring 70 constantly to exert its pressure on the work through the clamp. These connections, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, consist of oppositely arranged bellcrank levers 71-73 journaled respectively on the front and rear cross-rods 3 and 3, and between the short arms 7173 ofwhich the spring 70 is interposed. Said spring 70 is arranged to surround a guide-pin 75, pivotally attached to the short arm 71, and is confined between the bearing-head 76, adjustably secured on the end of the guide-pin,and the opposed bearing-head 78 which is secured on the guire-rods 808O carried in the supportinghead 82 shown pivotally secured to the rear short arm 7 3. The bearing head 78 is bored at 85 to receive the guide-pin 75 and the opposed bearing-head 76 is similarly 'bored at 86 to receive the guiderods 80 whereby the heads will be supported and guided in their relative movement caused by the engagement of roller 87, carried on the long arm 71 of bell-crank lever 71. with the cam 90 fixed on the drive-shaft 15 by means of which they are actuated to lower the clamp; the lowering of the clamp being efiected through the longer arm 73 of the rear bell-crank lever 73. ,As shown movement is imparted to the clamp-shaft 93 from the arms 73 by means of chain 94 connected at its lower end to the lever arm by the link 95, fitting the pin 96 on the'arm end, and connected at its upper end to the chain wheel 98 fixed on the clamp shaft 93. As will be readily seen depression of the arms 7 3 caused by the engagement of the actuating cam 90 or under the influence of the spring 70 when compressed, will operate to exert a leverage on the clamp-shaft 93 by means of the chain and chain wheel. thereby to rotate the shaft, thus causing the depression of the clamp by means of the engagement of the pinions 97-97 fixed on the shaft in engagement with the racks 4. 1 on the depending clamp straps 18. A weight 100 is arranged on the rear end of arm 73 for the purpose of returning the parts to their initial positions and to maintain the engagement of roller 87 with the actuating cam 90.

The link is shown provided with an elongated slot 102 to permit of manual de pression of the clamp if desired, independent of the automatically operating connectio-ns. Mechanism adapted to be manually operated for this purpose is here shown comprising the foot treadle 105 fulcrumed on the pin 106 and connected to rotate the clamp-shaft 93 to lower the clamp upon being depressed. The treadle as shown is connected to the shaft by means of the chain 110 carried on-the chain wheel 112 fixed on the said shaft.

The clamping pressure applied to the work during the interval that the knife is making its out may be produced by any suitable pressure mechanism but I preferably employ the pressure device now to be described, operating to produce the pressure on the work through the clamp-shaft. This device as here shown, consists of a pressurecase 120 journaled on the end of the clamp shaft and adapted when oscillated to effect a. rotatable pressure. on the clamp-shaft through the medium of a friction mechanism inclosed within the case, which pressure is transmitted to the clamp in the usual manner by the pinions 44in engagement with the clamp racks 43.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the friction mechanism consists of the ratchetwheels 122 journaled on the clamp-shaft and contained within the pressure-case in frictional engagement with the frictiondisks 123 fixed on said shaft; the ratchetwheels, disks and pressure case being secured on the shaft by the securing nut 124. When the pressure-case is oscillated in one direction the pawls 125 pivotally carried therein will engage the ratchet-wheels to cause their rotation and by means of the frictional contact of the ratchets with the disks a rotatable pressure is imparted to the clamp-shaft; the engagement of the clamp with the work operating to slip the friction when the clamp bears thereon with sufiicient pressure. The pressure-case. is retarded in its operative movement by the action of the weight .126 integral therewith. The purpose for the retarding of the case is to allow the jaw 128, fulcrumed on the case at 130, to first operate the pawls to throw them into engagement with the ratchets of the friction mechanism before movement is imparted to the case. This operation of the jaw with reference to the case is caused by reason that the case is rotated therethrough;

cam 132 formed integral with the crank 12 fixed on the drive-shaft 15, being arranged to engage roller 133 on the jaw to throw the pawls into engagement, after which further movement imparts motion to the pressurecase to operate the friction mechanism. The jaw is provided with the forward stop 135 adapted to engage the case stop 136 after the pawls have been fully forced into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet and a similar jaw-stop 138 is provided to engage the case stop 139 when the pawls have been fully withdrawn from engagement with the-ratchets, the weight of the jaw being sufficient to accomplish this upon its being released by the cam. The return of the pressure-case after each operation is caused by the action of the weight 126, which return movement is governed by the stop rest 140.

The operation of my improved machine will be readily understood from the foregoing; the cams 90 and 132, provided respectively to actuate the connections for the lowering of the clamp and the pressure device, are timed to operate successively to cause first the lowering of the clamp and the compression of the pressure-spring 7 0, then to exert its pressure on the clamp, and

thereafter to effect the heavy clamping pressure which ismaintained throughout the operation of the knife. After the knife has made the cut and has risen substantially to the top of its stroke the cams are formed to permit of the return of all of the parts to their normal positions.

I have thus produced a machine in which the clamping element is automatically actuated initially and firmly to hold and compress the pile and thereafter to produce a heavy clamping pressure thereon, whereby the air will be completely expelled from between the sheets to prevent distortion of.

the piles when the clamping pressure is applied. And incident to the employment of 5 the particular mechanism here shown this be proportionally stronger with a higher pile. In addition to automatically regulating itself to theheight of the pile an appreciable amount of power is saved by the use of the spring and connections as the spring will .constantly depress the clamp while merely being held by the concentric portion of the actuating cam.

There is a great saving in the power re quired to drive in comparison with other automatic clamp cutting machines, because it will benoted that the clamping pressure is exerted only on the down stroke, and when the clamp is going up again there is no work required of the driving belt for it.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcnt is: j

1. In a paper cutting machine, the combination with the knife and the clamp to cooperate with the knife, of a clamp-shaft, connections from the clamp-shaft to the clamp, to lower the clamp when the shaft is rotated, a drive-shaft,- connections from the drive-shaft to the clamp-shaft to rotate the clamp-shaft to lower the clamp, a spring embodied in said last named connections to exert its pressure on the work, a pressure device arranged to impart a rotatable pressure to the clamp-shaft when actuated and 'means to actuate the pressure device.

2. In a paper cutting machine, the combination with the knife and the clamp to cooperate with the knife, of a clamp-shaft, connections from the clamp-shaft to the clamp to lower the clamp when the shaft is rotated, connections to the clamp-shaft to lower. the clamp, said clamp lowering connections being adapted when actuated to lower the clamp and to produce a constant holding pressure thereon, means to actuate the connections, means to return connections to their initial positions, a pressure device arranged to impart a rotatable pressure on the clamp-shaft when actuated and means to actuate the pressure device to produce a clamping pressure on the work.

' 3. In a paper cutting machine, the combination with the knife and the clamp to cooperate with the knife, of a clamp-shaft, connections from the clamp-shaft to the clampvto lower the clamp when the shaft is rotated, connections to the clamp-shaft to rotate the shaft to lower the clamp, a spring embodied in said connections, means to actuate the connections to rotate the clampshaft and to energize the spring, a pressure device arranged to impart a rotatable pressure to the clamp-shaft when actuated, means to actuate the pressure device to produce a clamping pressure on the work, and

independent manually operated connections the clamp, oppositely arranged bell-crank levers suitably journaled, a spring interposed between the arms of said levers, connections from one of the levers to the clamp, and means to actuate the other lever to lower the clamp through the interposed spring and to energize the spring when the clamp bears on the work.

5. In a paper cutting machine, the combination with the knife and the clamp to cooperate with the knife, of a clamp-shaft, connections from the clamp-shaft to the clamp to lower the clamp when the shaft is rotated, oppositely arrangedbell-crank levers suitably journaled, opposed bearing heads pivotally carried on the respective lever arms, a spring interposed between the bearing heads, connections from one bellcrank lever to the clamp-shaft whereby the shaft is rotated, a roller on the opposite lever, a drive shaft and an engaging element on the drive-shaft to engage the roller to actuate the levers to depress the clamp.

6. In a paper cutting machine, the combination with the knife and the clamp to cooperate with the knife, of a clamp shaft, connections from the clamp-shaft to the clamp to lower the clamp when the shaft is rotated, oppositely arranged bell-crank levers suitably fulcrumed, opposed bearing heads pivotally carried on the -respective lever arms, a spring interposed between the bearing heads, connections from one bell crank lever to the clamp shaft whereby the shaft is rotated, a roller on the opposite lever, a drive shaft, an engaging element on the drive shaft to engage the roller to actuate the levers to depress the clamp, a pressure device arranged to impart a rotatable pressure to the clamp-shaft when actuated and means to actuate the pressure device to produce a clamping pressure on the work.

7. In a paper cutting machine, the combination with the knife and the clamp to cooperate with the knife, of clamp elevating springs arranged normally to sustain the clamp in elevated position, a clamp shaft, connections from the clamp-shaft to the clamp to lower the clamp when the shaft is rotated, oppositely arranged bell crank levers suitably fulcrumed, opposed bearing heads pivotally carried on the respective levers, a spring interposed between the bearing heads, guiding pins carried by the respect-ive heads to slide in the opposed heads, connections from one hell crank lever to the clamp shaft whereby the shaft is rotated, said connections being adapted to permit of the independent rotation of said shaft, a roller on the opposite lever, a drive shaft an engaging element on the drive shaft to en gage the roller to actuate the levers to depress the clamp, a pressure device arranged to impart a rotatable pressure to the clamp shaft when actuated, means to actuate the pressure device to produce a clamping pressure on the work and manually operated connections independentlyv to rotate the clamp shaft to lower the clamp.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DARIUS T. \VADHAMS.

Witnesses:

J AS. P. KANE, PATRICK J. GLAN Y.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. CJ 

